Fox Production President Emma Watts Signs 3-Year Contract Extension

Emma Watts has signed a new three-year contract that will keep her in place as 20th Century Fox’s president of production, the studio said Thursday.

Her deal comes as Fox is riding a box office hot streak, leading its big studio brethren in market share on the backs of such hits as “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.” Last month, 20th Century Fox became the first studio to gross $1 billion in domestic box office – and $3 billion worldwide.

It also comes as 20th Century Fox Film chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos is expected to name DreamWorks CEO Stacey Snider as his top lieutenant overseeing the creative direction of its five production divisions — Fox Animation, Fox Searchlight, Fox Intl., Fox 2000 and Watts’ 20th Century Fox. Snider’s contract expires at the end of 2014.

Watts’ previous contract was due to end in 2015, but was renegotiated after the string of summer successes.

“Emma is a proven and extremely talented production executive who has consistently led her division to great success, most recently through her stellar contributions to our remarkable summer slate,” Gianopulos said in a statement. “We look forward to her continuing contributions to our creative achievements in the years ahead.”